Blog Archives

Recently released, Marvel Battlegrounds is the newest addition to Disney Infinity 3.0. Keith wanted to check it out so he recorded his gameplay of Battlegrounds’ Story Mode. Enjoy both part 1 and part 2 here! You can also check out the unboxing of the Captain America figure on Keith’s channel. Just click the “YouTube” link below to see it!

Not only is it an exciting time for Star Wars fans, it’s a great time to be a Marvel fan. For the first time ever, Spiderman is greeting guests at Disneyland and he has joined his fellow superheroes in Tomorrowland. Keith and Tyler went to meet him and ask him a very important question! Also be sure to see more from Keith at the links below.

Since the start of the new Millennium, the world has fallen in love with comic book superheroes. The films that have come out have become big hits, especially the films encompassed into Disney and Marvel’s Cinematic Universe (MCU). Marvel has mapped out it’s intent to make movies through 2020 as part of the MCU, but recently Warner Brothers has announced that DC Comics will also have their own connected film franchise that will showcase at least 1 film a year. Fox also still has the rights to X-Men and Fantastic Four and it doesn’t look like they are letting go of those stories and could make new films for those superheroes at any time.

For this episode we invited friends Mike Tolen and Ryan Stanton (@MrTracerFace) to be on the podcast this week to discuss the over abundance of superheroes in the market. With the addition of DC’s film franchise and Fox, we could easily see a half dozen superhero films in the theater every year. That’s not to mention the shows on television like Agents of Shield, Arrow, The Flash, and more. With so much superhero content, are we going to see a decline in ticket sales and merchandise sales for these films and what does that mean for Marvel and Disney. How should they change their business plan or should they at all? Should there be a Phase 4 of Marvel films? Will Disney’s Star Wars be another franchise Marvel has to fight against? All of these questions and more in this week’s episode of Modern Mouse Radio.

Now that we are 11 films and 3 television series into what Marvel calls it’s cinematic universe, and with only one more film as part of “Phase 2” of the project (Ant-Man will be the last in the series this summer.) it’s safe to say that we have met a plethora of characters that have brought this universe to life. Looking back at all of these films, it’s amazing what they all contribute. Both villains and heroes have made substantial differences in where we were in the original Iron Man film to where we are now after the Avengers: Age of Ultron. This universe has changed and if we see all of these films taking place at nearly the same time, there are some stand out characters that this universe needs. My top 5 characters are those that have brought delight to watchers but have also changed the universe for better or for worse. These 5 characters bring something unique and interesting to the franchise. Here are my Top 5 characters in Marvel’s Cinematic Universe.

#5-Daredevil/Matt Murdock. If you haven’t been able to check out the Netflix’s series, you should make the time. The great thing about a television series versus a film is that it has time. I understand Matt Murdock more than any other character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). It’s not a story that changes the game for the world or the universe, but it does showcase one thing better than almost any other film and that’s humanity. At the end of the day, many of these characters aren’t just people that walk the streets, pay rent, go on dates, and struggle just to get by. The Daredevil story tells us that some heroes are still human and that despite their great intentions, they are still a person that needs to get up in the morning and do their job so they can buy groceries and pay for their home. It’s more of a personal story (more so than Hawkeye’s story in Age of Ultron) and for that it makes this list.

#4-Thor. You’ll eventually notice that Captain America didn’t make my list, and he almost landed here instead of Thor. Despite Cap’s ability to be a leader, it is Thor’s godliness that protects the universe. He isn’t just part of the Avengers, but is a much larger character than that. Being an Avenger is only part of his life. He is a ruler of a world and defends the universe much more than any of the other Avengers will ever know. Without Thor in the MCU we may have already seen the destruction of Earth and many other planets including Asgard.

#3-Star Lord/Peter Quill. It’s a weird character to put at this spot but hear me out! Star Lord, a petty thief, got caught up in something much bigger than himself and he faced up to his fears as well as wrangled his team of “guardians” to save a planet. Peter Quill, without knowing of his possible powers, rallied everyone as a leader, maybe even better than Captain America, to defeat an unstoppable force. I look forward to Quill continuing to be a leader in the universe and saving multiple planets as well as making sure his crew is safe.

#2-Loki. The only villain on this list (as of now) due to his serious change in the universe. His battles with Thor and the Avengers brought serious changes to the Universe. The Avengers are much different after “the incident” in New York and Loki is the longest lasting in any of the stories in the MCU so far. Loki’s charisma as well as his devious ways has also made him a fan favorite and we are sure to see him in future films due to his popularity making sure that his battles with The Avengers aren’t over yet!

#1-Iron Man/Tony Stark. The Avengers are a sophisticated group that have a billionaire at their disposal. Without Tony Stark, much of the Avengers ability to track down villains as well as battle them with many of their gadgets, would not exist. Even though Cap is considered the leader, Iron Man is the most important member of the team, not because of what he brings to battles, but because he is the financial and technological support of the team. On the other side of this, Tony Stark is also the cause for what will eventually tear the team apart. The Avengers wouldn’t have battled Ultron if it weren’t for Stark creating him. Stark is his own enemy and in that case, an enemy of The Avengers, but they need him for his support financially and technologically. He is the most crucial part of the MCU because without Tony Stark, the universe might as well have been destroyed already.

What characters do you think are the most important in Marvel’s Cinematic Universe? How would you rank them and why? Who’s your favorite character? Leave you comments and keep the conversation going!

Keith and Josh take a look back at the year. They discuss the top Disney films at the box office and critically. They also discuss the announcements and openings of things at Disney Parks. Then they talk ABC, video games, and more. Enjoy this look back on 2014 as we start the new year!

Keith made a trip to Times Square to check out the new Marvel’s new Avengers Station. Is this something we could be seeing coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando or even Tomorrowland in Anaheim? Maybe this type of exhibit will be a part of the Marvel Experience that will be touring starting next year! Regardless, see Keith as he checks out the science and technology behind Marvel’s Cinematic Universe. Be sure to also check out the links below fro more from Keith!

Keith and Josh are back to chat about superheros and Marvel entertainment. They bring up the brief history and connection with Disney as well as the films that have come out and are coming out. They also delve into comics, heros at the parks, video games, and more!